OPEN SCHOOLING: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Every government in the world has an obligation to provide education to all its citizens, chiefly because education is not only a human right but is also a critical factor in economic development and poverty reduction. In particular basic (primary and secondary) education helps reduce poverty “by increasing the productivity of the poor, by reducing fertility and improving health and by equipping people with the skills they need to participate in the economy and in society”. (World Bank, 1995: 1). Many governments have developed a variety of strategies for developing education and training programmes. 1hese include experimentation with innovative approaches and technologies such as open and distance learning. In particular the challenge of implementing goals for universalisation of primary education and the need to increase access to secondary education has contributed to the development and expansion of open schooling. This paper outlines the development of open schooling, describes examples of open schooling and discusses the role of open schooling in increasing access to quality basic education especially to out of school children. Open schooling: Issues and challenges Development of open schoolin